"The Last Great American Dynasty" is a song by Taylor Swift from her 2020 album folklore . It tells the true story of , a socialite and patron of the arts who previously owned Swift’s mansion in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, known as Holiday House . The Story of Rebekah Harkness
: The lyrics mention she dyed a neighbor's dog "key lime green" in a feud. In reality, it was reportedly a cat she dyed green.
: She spent much of her fortune sponsoring the Joffrey Ballet and eventually founded her own company, the Harkness Ballet. Parallel Lives the last great american dynasty
Taylor Swift – the last great american dynasty Lyrics - Genius
: Bill was part of the wealthy Harkness family, whose money came from the oil industry. "The Last Great American Dynasty" is a song
: Rebekah was known for outrageous behavior, such as cleaning her swimming pool with champagne (Dom Perignon) and gambling with surrealist artist Salvador Dalí.
: After Bill died of a heart attack in 1954, town gossips blamed Rebekah, claiming her wild lifestyle "made his heart give out". In reality, it was reportedly a cat she dyed green
The song follows Rebekah’s life after she moved from St. Louis to Rhode Island and married William "Bill" Harkness, an heir to the Standard Oil fortune, in 1947. Key historical events referenced in the lyrics include: